L e s s o n 6 3

Elijah & the Prophets of Baal

1 K i n g s 1 8 : 1 7 – 3 8

BiBle TruTh

O u r G O d i s a b Ov e a l l G O d s

g o s p e L s t o r y C u r r i C u L u m ( o t ) ● p r e s C H o o L

l esson snapshot

1. OpeninG activity and intrOductiOn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

2. bible stOry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min

SupplieS: The Gospel Story Bible (story 63)

3. bible stOry discussiOn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

Where is Jesus?SupplieS: Bible (ESV preferred); Review “Where Is Jesus?” to prepare

4. snack QuestiOns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min

SupplieS: Snack food/water

5. sWOrd bible MeMOry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–10 min

6. activities and ObJect lessOns (chOOse One Or MOre) 20–30 min

coloring page 63SupplieS: markers/crayons

light the candleSupplieS: two votive candles, each glued to the inside bottom of a jar; long fireplace matches; water

a story bee

7. clOsinG prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

TOTAl 60–75 min

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

PA G E 4 8 7 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

the l esson

OpeninG activity and intrOductiOn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

In today’s lesson, the children will learn how God through the prophet Elijah defeated the false god Baal and all of his prophets together.

Ask the class:■■ who was Elijah?

(Elijah was a prophet of God.)

■■ what does a prophet do?(He speaks for God.)

■■ who is Baal?(Baal is a false god.)

To help the children understand what a false god is go through the following exercise:

Can Baal see? (Have the children put their hands over their eyes and say “No-o-o,” together, nice and loud.)

Can Baal hear prayers? (Have the children put their hands over their ears and say “No-o-o,” together, nice and loud.)

Can Baal speak a word to comfort the people? (Have the children put their hands over their mouths and shake their heads no.)

Can Baal save the people? (Have the children drop their hands limply to their sides and say “No-o-o,” together, nice and loud.)

Then ask the children the same questions about “our God the God of Israel,” and have the children shout yes to each of the questions.

Pray for the remainder of the class time before moving forward with the lesson.

bible stOry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min

Read story 63, “Elijah and the Prophets of Baal,” from The Gospel Story Bible.

PA G E 4 8 8 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

bible stOry discussiOn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

After reading the story, use the following questions to involve the children in a discussion:

■■ what did the prophets of Baal and Elijah do?(They had a contest to see whose god was real. Whichever god burned up the offering would prove to be the true God.)

■■ why didn’t Baal burn up the offering?(There is only one God. Baal is a false god. He doesn’t exist.)

■■ what happened when it was Elijah’s turn?(God answered his prayer. God burned up the offering, the stones, and even the water poured on the sacrifice.)

snack QuestiOns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 min

While the children are eating the snack, engage them by asking:

■■ why did Elijah have water poured on top of the altar?(Water puts out fires. He wanted to make sure that God would get the glory. Only God could consume wet wood and stones with fire. The prophets of Baal would not be able to say that Elijah tricked them.)

■■ in whom was Elijah trusting?(God)

■■ what happened earlier in Elijah’s life that helped him to trust in God?(God provided for him during the famine by sending ravens with food and by giving the widow an unending supply of oil and flour.)

■■ what lesson did Elijah learn about God from these past events?(Elijah learned that God was powerful and able to do all things.)

sWOrd bible MeMOry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–10 min

Take time during the class to review the SWORD Bible Memory verses with the class. Provide the opportunity for each child to recite the verses to an adult worker.

PA G E 4 8 9 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

activities and ObJect lessOns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20–30 min

coloring activitySupplieS:

■✓ coloring page 63—one copy for each child

While the children are coloring, engage them by asking the following questions:

■■ Ask the children to describe what Elijah is doing and what is going to happen.

(Elijah is praying, and God is going to answer his prayers by sending fire from heaven.)

Have the children color the water blue. Then have them take red and orange crayons and draw in the fire from heaven.

Where is Jesus?Please use the following comments connecting today’s lesson to the gospel to help inform your understanding and serve you by aiding your preparation for class. Remember, we want to do more than present disconnected Bible stories and lessons to our young children. We want them to understand how each story in the Bible plays a part in God’s greater plan of redemption.

Passage: Matthew 27:49

On Mount Carmel God revealed himself through consuming the sacrifice offered by Elijah. This was an expression of his grace. Even though the people of Israel rejected him, he showed himself by accepting Elijah’s sacrifice.

The sacrifice of the bull was another reminder before God that one day a sacrifice would be made to atone for all the sins of his people. Knowing Jesus’ sacrifice would come, God poured out mercy and accepted Elijah’s sacrifice that day.

When Jesus hung on the cross the people mocked him saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save him” (Matthew 27:49). Little did the people know that all of Elijah’s wonders were meant to point to Jesus.

PA G E 4 9 0 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

■■ what can we learn about God from this story?(God is real; he is all-powerful; he speaks to his people.)

light the candleSupplieS:

■✓ two votive candles, each glued to the inside bottom of a jar■✓ long fireplace matches■✓ water

This demonstration will help the children understand how amazing it was for God to consume the sacrifice after water was poured over it. (Do this activity on a table with ample space between you and the children.)

Do the following: Pour water over one of the candles until the water level is over the wick. Take a large fireplace match and light the dry candle. Then interview the class to see if you will be able to light the candle in the water. Ask the class to be very quiet. Light another match and try to light the candle in the water. Move slowly. The water should snuff the fire out as soon as it comes in contact with the match. Help the children to see that only God could have consumed the water-soaked sacrifice on the mountain that day.

a story beeHave all the children line up. If they answer a question correctly they remain standing. If they miss the question they must sit down. The following is a list of questions you can ask. If a person misses a question keep going till someone answers correctly. You could also break the class up in groups and play multiple times, with multiple winners.

■■ what was the prophet’s name in this story?(Elijah)

■■ what did Elijah build and ask God to burn up with fire?(an altar)

■■ where did Elijah build the altar?(on a mountain, Mount Carmel)

PA G E 4 9 1 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

■■ who else built an altar?(the priests of Baal and the prophets of Asherah)

■■ to whom did the priests of Baal build their altar?(the false god Baal)

■■ How many stones did Elijah use to build his altar?(twelve)

■■ what did Elijah want poured on his altar?(water)

■■ How many times did he ask that water be poured onto his altar?(three times)

■■ what came out of the sky?(fire)

pray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 min

Take time at the end of class to thank God for all you learned today. Include parts of your Bible lesson in your prayer as another way for the children to remember what today’s lesson was about.

PA G E 4 9 2 • w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m

● p r e s C H o o L L e s s o n 6 3

l E s s o n 6 3 - E l i J A H A n d t H E P r o P H E t s o f B A A l

w w w. G o s P E l s t o r y f o r k i d s . c o m